JFCS Immigration Legal Services has faced some significant challenges since the start of the pandemic. The need for legal services is greater than ever. One of the ways they’re working to be able to better meet the needs of their clients and increase their reputation as legal experts in the community is by training lawyers through Continuing Legal Education classes, or CLEs.
Continuing Legal Education classes
JFCS has offered occasional CLEs in the past, when the classes could be held in person. A clinic day for Citizenship application often follows these classes. But the shift to virtual services offered a new opportunity for JFCS to apply for Accreditation from the state as a Distance Learning Provider to be able to offer multiple classes throughout the year. Topics cover a wide range of legal areas including Unaccompanied Children, naturalization, and asylum to help attorneys gain a better understanding of these processes.
“Offering these courses virtually means we’re still able to do the clinic days and serve larger numbers of clients,” JFCS Immigration Legal Services Director Jamie Englert explained. “They also allow us to engage pro bono attorneys to provide more help to the community.” The CLEs are often offered for free in exchange for helping with JFCS cases. Recruiting pro bono attorneys to help with cases has been increasingly important as the need for immigration legal services has risen at JFCS.
The Learning Continues
Since gaining accreditation, JFCS has held four CLE courses and has one more planned for February 2021. They plan to have additional courses later in the year. November’s focused on legal processes for unaccompanied children. January’s two sessions covered citizenship for immigrant children and adjustment of status for refugees. The two courses in February focus on naturalization and asylum.
With their new accreditation, JFCS Immigration Legal Services team plans to continue offering the CLE classes well into the future.
If you’re interested in joining the February 19th session on asylum, please contact us at legal@jfcspgh.org.